Search

Objective: This study aimed to assess and compare the measurement properties of EQ-5D-Y-3L utilities derived from available countries' value sets (Chinese, Japanese, Slovenian, German, Spanish, Hungarian, Netherlandish, Belgian, and Indonesian), among Chinese adolescents. Methods: From July to September 2021, a large-scale cross-sectional survey was administered across 16 cities in Shandong, China, with the objective of assessing the health status of junior high school students aged 10–18 years. Supported by the educational authorities, quick response (QR) codes and questionnaire links were disseminated to schools. A total of 97,413 junior high school students completed the questionnaire. Agreement, convergent validity, and known-group validity were determined in the nine country-specific value sets. Results: The Indonesian value set demonstrated the highest mean health utility score (0.970), followed by the Japanese (0.961), Chinese (0.960), Netherlandish (0.948), Hungarian (0.942), German (0.938), Belgian (0.932), Slovenian (0.926), and Spanish (0.926) value sets, respectively. The utility scores derived from Asian value sets were higher than those from Europe. Good or excellent agreements (intraclass correlation coefficients > 0.7) were found between each paired value set. In Bland-Altman plots, the 95% limits of agreement for any two value sets were 0.046–0.348. A strong relationship (Spearman's correlation coefficients > 0.99) between any two value sets was found. The EQ-5D-Y-3L utility scores discriminated equally well for the nine value sets across three known groups. The effect size and the relative efficiency statistics showed the Chinese value sets were more sensitive in general. Referring to the Chinese value set, all the relative efficiency values in each value set were similar across three known groups, ranging from 0.9 to 1.0. Conclusions: A total of nine country-specific EQ-5D-Y-3L value sets showed an overall high level of agreement, strong correlation, and good known-group validity. However, the utility scores derived from nine EQ-5D-Y-3L value sets were different and the country-specific value sets were not interchangeable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic condition that requires lifelong treatment and results in a serious disease burden. Health state utility values (HSUVs) are a valuable tool for quantifying this burden and conducting cost-utility analysis. Objective: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to obtain estimates of HSUVs in patients with AS, explored potential sources of heterogeneity, and compared pooled patient HSUVs with population norms. Method: We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of science, Cochrane database and Scopus until July, 2023 to obtain eligible studies. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the ROBINS-I checklist. Results: Forty-two publications involving 11,354 participants were included in this systematic review. The most commonly used instrument is the EQ-5D (38 studies). The estimated HSUVs for patients with AS from all available studies was pooled as 0.62 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.65). The pooled mean utility estimates from the random effects meta-analysis for SF-6D, EQ-5D-3L, EQ-5D-5L, and HUI3 were 0.65 (95% CI 0.62,0.68), 0.63 (95% CI 0.59,0.66), 0.60 (95% CI 0.42,0.79), and 0.48 (95% CI 0.43,0.53), respectively. For the EQ-5D-3L we conducted stratified meta-analyses and meta-regression based on key subgroups. The pooled estimates of EQ-5D-3L were lower for patients published before 2010, with high disease activity, long duration of disease, and in developed countries. Conclusion: Pooled estimates of HSUVs for people with AS were substantially lower than population norms. These estimates provide robust evidence that can inform the economic evaluation of new therapies for individuals with AS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with ovarian cancer (OC) often suffer from depressive symptoms, but the associated factors only have a small number of reports. In view of increasing attention to positive psychological resources in the field of oncology, it is necessary to explore the effects of these resources on depressive symptoms. This study explored the relations between social support and depressive symptoms, and whether resilience played a mediating role. A cross-sectional study was performed between August 2018 and March 2019. Perceived social support, resilience, and depressive symptoms were measured with the Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression (CES-D) scale and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Hierarchical linear regression analyses were used to assess the mediating role of resilience between these variables. A total of 230 OC survivors were enrolled and finally 217 patients completed the questionnaires. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 50.7%. After controlling for covariates, perceived social support was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms and explained 22.8% of the variance. In addition, after controlling for covariates and perceived social support, resilience was also negatively associated with depressive symptoms and explained 18.1% of the variance. Resilience could partially mediate the associations of perceived social support with depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms in OC patients should be concerned. Perceived social support and resilience were both positive psychological resources for resisting depressive symptoms, and resilience could mediate the association between social support and depressive symptoms. It was critical to focus on social support as well as resilience in the psychosocial interventions of OC patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common chronic respiratory disease in preterm infants caused by multifactorial etiology. Genetic factors are involved in the occurrence of BPD, but studies have found that candidate genes have poor reproducibility and are influenced by ethnic heterogeneity; therefore, more exploration is still needed. We performed whole-exon sequencing in 34 preterm infants with BPD and 32 non-BPD control neonates. The data were analyzed and interpreted by Fisher difference comparison, PLINK and eQTL association analysis, KEGG and GO enrichment analysis, STRING tool, Cytoscape software, ProtParam tool, HOPE online software, and GEOR2 analysis on NCBI GEO dataset. BPD has a highly heterogeneity in different populations, and we found 35 genes overlapped with previous whole-exon sequencing studies, such as APOB gene. Arterial and epithelial cell development and energy metabolism pathways affect BPD. In this study, 24 key genes were identified, and BIVM rs3825519 mutation leads to prolonged assisted ventilation in patients with BPD. A novel DDAH1 mutation site (NM_012137: exon1: c.89 T > G: p.L30R) was found in 9 BPD patients. Conclusion: BIVM gene rs3825519 mutation may play a role in the pathogenesis of BPD by affecting cilia movement, and the DDAH1 and APOB genes mutations may have a pathogenic role in BPD. What is Known: • Genetic factors are involved in the occurrence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. • The candidate genes have poor reproducibility and are influenced by ethnic heterogeneity, therefore, more exploration is still needed. What is New: • We identified the role of susceptible SNPs in BPD in Shenzhen, China, and identified 24 key genes that influence the pathogenesis of BPD, and also found 35 genes overlapped with previous whole exon sequencing studies, such as APOB gene. • We found that BIVM and DDAH1 genes may play a pathogenic role in the pathogenesis of BPD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) is a syndrome of acute respiratory failure characterized by systemic hypoxemia and elevated pulmonary arterial pressure, which leads to pathological changes in pulmonary vascular remodeling and endothelial cell function. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 has been shown to be involved in the regulation of arterial endothelial cell function, but its regulatory role in PPHN is not fully understood. In the present study, mouse pulmonary artery endothelial cells (MPAECs) were cultured in a hypoxic conditions. Subsequently, the regulatory function of lncRNA H19 on MPAECs was explored by constructing adenoviruses knocking down and overexpressing lncRNA H19. The results revealed that the hypoxic conditions could induce the proliferation and migration of MPAECs, as well as the high expression of lncRNA H19 in MPAECs. Knockdown of lncRNA H19 expression in MPAECs reversed hypoxic environment-induced functional changes in endothelial cells, whereas overexpression of lncRNA H19 further enhanced the proliferation and migration of MPAECs. In addition, lncRNA H19 upregulated the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway through sponge of miNA-20a-5p, which in turn promoted changes in endothelial cell function. LncRNA H19 may interfere with vascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension by upregulating the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in vascular endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the detailed computed tomography angiography (CTA) features of isolated superior mesenteric artery dissection (ISMAD), aiming to improve the current understanding of ISMAD. Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 57 patients with confirmed diagnoses of ISMAD with CTA from June 2011 to June 2018 in our hospital. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) angle, entry site of dissection, and features of both false and true lumen were analyzed individually. Results: In general, middle-aged men with atherosclerosis (42.1%), hypertension (35.3%), or long-term smoking (33.3%) were the main populations. 80.7% of patients can be discharged successfully after conservative treatment. 87% of patients had a right (or almost right) SMA angle, and the entry site of dissection in 90% of patients occurred in the curved segment of the SMA. As a polymorphic disease, we can use the coded CTA features to delineate individual cases, including cases beyond the presenting classification systems. The diameter of the true lumen is the only different CTA feature between the conservative treatment group and the interventional treatment group (p = 0.000). The re-entry site (p = 0.501), thrombosis in the false lumen (p = 0.135), the distance between the entry site of dissection and SMA root (p = 0.133), and SMA branch involvement (p = 0.322) had no difference between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Based on CTA analysis, the bending area, especially in the SMA with right or nearly right SMA angle, is the most vulnerable anatomical region for the occurrence of ISMAD. The diameter of true lumen is the determined CTA feature for the decision of treatment. CTA should be recommended as a standardized diagnostic and classification tool for ISMAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dongguan City, located in the Pearl River Delta economic zone of China, is famous for its rapid developing township-enterprises in the past 30 years. A total of 759 composite soil samples, including 606 surface soil samples and 153 deep soil samples, have been collected in the city. These samples have been analyzed for 13 elements (Al, As, Cu, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, and Zn) and other parameters (pH values and organic matter) to evaluate the influence of anthropic activities on the soil environmental quality and to identify the spatial distribution of heavy metals and their possible sources. The results indicate that the average concentrations of heavy metals in soil were significantly lower than the threshold of the second grade of the Soil Environment Quality Standard in China (GB15618-1995) and the soil environmental quality in this area is comparatively good. But in comparison with local soil geochemical baseline values, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn have accumulated remarkably. Specifically, the average concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, and Hg in the small part samples of the west plain and central areas are higher than the national second-grade quality standard, indicating some level of contamination. Multivariate and geostatistical methods have been applied to differentiate the influences of natural processes and human activities on the concentration of heavy metals in surface soils in the study area. Cluster and factor analyses result in the grouping of Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, and Si into factor F1; Co, Mn, Pb, and Zn into F2; and Cd and Hg into F3. The spatial pattern of the three factors may be well demonstrated by geostatistical analysis. It is shown that the first factor could be considered as a natural source controlled by parent material. The second factor could be referred to as 'industrial and traffic pollution sources'. The source of the third factor is mainly controlled by long-term anthropic activities, including agricultural activities, fossil fuel consumption, and atmospheric deposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface tension of molten AlSi20 alloy has been measured by using the sessile drop method at 923-1123 K under argon atmosphere in both heating-up and cooling processes. The result shows that the surface tension of this alloy decreases as long as temperature increases. The results of surface tension and contact angles in heating-up process have differences from those obtained in cooling process, because the metal microstructures have some changes at different temperatures based on the metal genetic theory. The surface tension of molten AlSi20 alloy and that of molten pure aluminum have been compared as well, and the temperature coefficient of AlSi20 alloy is slightly lower than that of Al. The result has been analyzed by the linear scanning analysis with ESEM. The concentration of silicon in most region of the bulk is lower than that of the surface and the addition of Si to pure Al decreases the surface tension of molten pure Al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis method, based on MacCormack’s technique, for the evaluation of the time domain sensitivity of distributed parameter elements in high-speed circuit networks. Sensitivities can be calculated from electrical and physical parameters of the distributed parameter elements. The proposed method is a direct numerical method of time-space discretization and does not require complicated mathematical deductive process. Therefore, it is very convenient to program this method. It can be applied to sensitivity analysis of general transmission lines in linear or nonlinear circuit networks. The proposed method is second-order-accurate. Numerical experiment is presented to demonstrate its accuracy and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The MacCormack method is applied to the analysis of multiconductor transmission lines by introducing a new technique that does not require decoupling. This method can be used to analyze a wide range of problems and does not have to consider the matrix forms of distributed parameters. We have developed software named MacCormack Transmission Line Analyzer based on the proposed method. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the method and illustrate its application to analyzing multiconductor transmission lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new method for analyzing high-speed circuit systems is presented. The method adds transmission line end currents to the circuit variables of the classical modified nodal approach. Then the matrix equation describing high-speed circuit system can be formulated directly and analyzed conveniently for its normative form. A time-domain analysis method for transmission lines is also introduced. The two methods are combined together to efficiently analyze high-speed circuit systems having general transmission lines. Numerical experiment is presented and the results are compared with that calculated by Hspice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of high-speed circuits, the analysis of mixed circuit networks containing both distributed parameter elements and lumped parameter elements becomes ever important. This paper presents a new method for analyzing mixed circuit networks. It adds transmission line end currents to the circuit variables of the classical modified nodal approach and can be applied directly to the mixed circuit networks. We also introduce a frequency-domain technique without requiring decoupling for multiconductor transmission lines. The two methods are combined together to efficiently analyze high-speed circuit networks containing uniform, nonuniform, and frequency-dependent transmission lines. Numerical experiment is presented and the results are compared with drat computed by PSPICE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessing the impacts of parent material on distributions of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils has significant consequences in the apportionment of their sources. In this study, geochemical distributions and sources of PTEs in the soils developed in quaternary sediments and granite plutons of Pearl River Delta (PRD), South China, were investigated. The results indicate that there are systematic differences between the concentrations of oxides and PTEs in the soils developed in these two parent materials. The parent material predominantly determines the element distributions in the soils. The PTEs of the deep soils developed in quaternary sediments originated mainly from mafic, felsic, and carbonate sources materials as well as polymetallic deposits. For the deep soils developed in granite plutons, the element associations are governed mainly by their geochemical affinities and behaviors and the mineral compositions of granite plutons. Anthropogenic activities impact the features of the PTEs in the surface soils of PRD. However, superimposed regional-scale pollution was found to not hide the effect of the parent material on the distribution of PTEs in the surface soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internal hernia (IH)-related surgical acute abdomen is not well understood because of the rarity of cases and underdiagnosis. This study was performed to further understand the clinicopathological features and multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) findings of IH in cases confirmed by surgery. In all, 51 patients with a definite diagnosis of IH confirmed during surgical exploration from Feb. 2012 to Feb. 2018 in our hospital were included in this research. Medical records, including MDCT images and intra-operative findings, were collected retrospectively. In all, 39 and 12 cases were categorized as adhesive IH (76.5%) and non-adhesive IH (23.5%), respectively. Among the patients with adhesive IH, 73% had a history of abdominal or pelvic surgery. Additionally, the mesentery was the most common component of adhesive bands (64.1%). Congenital peritoneal abnormalities and gastrointestinal reconstruction were the main causes of non-adhesive IH.As a specific sign, the fat notch sign was much more common in adhesive IH than in non-adhesive IH (P = 0.023). Bowel wall thickening (P = 0.041), abnormal bowel wall enhancement (P = 0.006) and twisted bowels with the vessel swirl sign (P = 0.004) were indicators of bowel necrosis. Among all of the cases of IH, 34 (66.7%) were complicated by bowel necrosis, and 1 patient died. In conclusion, non-adhesive IH has different clinicopathological features and MDCT findings from those of adhesive IH. MDCT is a useful tool with high sensitivity for confirming IH and may help to guide the early treatment of IH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]